I thought about this and even hesitated posting but had my own burning questions if other hunters are seeking deep timber game and how their doing it, I wont need to divulge any more now. I can say the deep brush and navigation skill cuts out over half the hunting pressure, but Ive even noticed some human sign in the places I go. I put some trailcams out where I hunt blacktail in the coast range in the most awful spots and was surprised to capture a bow hunter passing by. I used to do this stuff with a paper map and compass but now people are getting out farther with gps, but still way less than the open timber and clear cut hunters.
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Deep timber elk
- Thread starter Koda_
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yup, good ol coast range off trail. if you can learn to navigate off trail there you can anywhere. Top photo looks better and what I try to find, typically around 2000ft north aspects. Bottom photo gets frustrating quickly amazing how those big animals can move thru that stuff meanwhile I get all tangled up. Thats a lot of branches there.
Idaho Lefty
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YES,. My family spends a lot of Time, figuring out, HOW to, get AWAY from, the "Crowds" and put Elk meat, on the Table.
I like, the "Crowd" just fine,.. WHERE they are,. AT !
I like, the "Crowd" just fine,.. WHERE they are,. AT !
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If you want to ask the mods to delete this thread I would not be offended, I hear ya and understand. But on the flip side, this isn't a new idea.... bow hunters have been on this for many years. Technology like GPS is the bigger culprit here and we cant stop technology.
Idaho Lefty
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@ Koda,..
I guess everybody's has got to learn,.. somehow. We "Bugled / called in", a Father and son, this October, 2 miles from the Truck and IN, the Timber.
They sounded just like, an Elk and were wearing Camo and Tan jackets ( inexperienced Hunters ) wearing, NO,. orange !
Somebody else, might have thrown, a shot their, way ! Sorry, for the Rant ! Most of the "good" Tips are on, the First Page about, HOW to Hunt, the Timber ! Good luck !
I guess everybody's has got to learn,.. somehow. We "Bugled / called in", a Father and son, this October, 2 miles from the Truck and IN, the Timber.
They sounded just like, an Elk and were wearing Camo and Tan jackets ( inexperienced Hunters ) wearing, NO,. orange !
Somebody else, might have thrown, a shot their, way ! Sorry, for the Rant ! Most of the "good" Tips are on, the First Page about, HOW to Hunt, the Timber ! Good luck !
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its a dilemma, on one side we all want the perfect spot to hunt all to ourselves, on the other side we want to advocate for hunting and bring new hunters in to keep the tradition. I'm sure there's a balance to be had somewhere.
Works the same with dirt biking, guys will say you need to bring saws to clear trees from the trail and fix the trail beds all while encouraging others to get out and ride so we can get funding to keep trails open and in the next breath they say don't tell anyone where the trails are because lots will come use them and they will get destroyed and then be closed.
I started getting into LRH because of the difficulty of being successful hunting thick stuff. Putting on miles and hours of hard work only to hear my target crashing through the timber out front of me, looking at the tracks....debating on how big he was.....hiking back out and trying to be even sneakier the next time. Sometimes you get lucky sometimes you dont. It was very frustrating but also rewarding. Still motivating enough to figure out a way to hunt smarter. I then left the dark timber hunting specifically for the bow in September. Focus my rifle hunts to states/locations where I can hunt smarter. Sometimes it's not possible in your specific unit but being willing to change ways/units/states has helped with success in rifle season. It is fun to beat the timber like the old days though. Sometimes I grab the truck gun and enjoy the old bird dog tactics.
I elk hunt some pretty neat terrain. I sit high and glass early and late in the day. During the day I still hunt the timber Ive been really successful by spotting elk early and watching them go into the timber then switching rifles to my guide gun and still hunting dark timber. I cant see open sights very well anymore the best thing I ever did was mount a burris fast fire on my guide gun. It changed everything for me no more struggling with open sights. Dark timber its easy to see that little red dot. I also cow call sporadically while still hunting. Reminds me alot of growing up back east and still hunting whitetails, as a kid I shot lots of whitetails that way once I learned to slow down and see everything before the next step.
cornshank
Well-Known Member
Great post, it reminded me of the time I was sneaking through the thick timber and stepped over a big log real slow and looked down , to see an old pair of thick gold wire rimmed glasses , the wind was blowing the low limbs around, I looked around and made a quick exit stage left!
I still laugh about that one , and didn't kill an elk that day.
As for the hunting up or down hill , it been my observation for the elk in Colorado that when pushed a little they tend to go up and over, then up.
I still laugh about that one , and didn't kill an elk that day.
As for the hunting up or down hill , it been my observation for the elk in Colorado that when pushed a little they tend to go up and over, then up.
hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
Move with wind correct. I mean move slow. That picture you posted was very open to me. I hunted Rosy's on the coast for 35 years and you have to be very slow no noise. I carried a pair of pruning shears to cut some of the brush in front of me so I did not make noise moving it. If you are spooking game other than wind issues you are moving to fast.
slowelk
Well-Known Member
My biggest critters have come from the thick stuff. Have to be adaptable, that's why I prefer smaller cartridges and we'll designed first focal plane reticles - no need for a break and accurate subtensions when you need to dial up the power.
